Abstract: Competing commercial demands on water resources need to be balanced as the world’s population rises. Generally, groundwater is raised by subsurface dams. In this paper, the geographic information system (GIS) software and a decision-making method were applied. As the first step, the limitations that affect the establishment of the subsurface dam were identified using eliminating criteria by the Boolean logic. Regarding the second step, the most appropriate axis was determined for subsurface dam construction in each of the limits. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied according to the evaluation criteria in this study. The aim of using AHP was to weigh and prioritize the criteria of the groundwater dam for recognizing appropriate sites. Among various places and regarding the subsurface dam construction, AHP was conducted using a hierarchy process for finding the most suitable sites in the third stage of the decision-making method. Finally, among the ten appropriate sites, cross comparison was drawn by using Decision Expert (DEX), Evaluation based on Distance from Average Solution (EDAS), and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). Compared together (as a process of decision-making), DEX, TOPSIS, and EDAS methods assisted in ranking the most appropriate sites in the final step of subsurface dam pre-selection. A and C axes obtained scores between 1 and 2, among 10 axes according to the numerically ranked locations. Regarding the water shortage issue and better management of the underground water at certain levels, the findings of this study could be useful for the residents of Kajbid-Balaqly Watershed in the dry season. Further, water managers can use the above-mentioned methods for their decisions regarding the proper subsurface dam establishment.

Abstract: The long-lived radio-krypton isotope 81Kr (t1/2 = 2.29 × 105 yr) is an ideal tracer for old groundwater age dating in the range of 105–106 years which goes beyond the reach of radio-carbon (14C) age dating. Analytical breakthrough made over the last two decades in Atom Trap Trace Analysis (ATTA) has enabled the use of this isotope with extremely low abundance (81Kr/Kr = 6 × 10−13) to be used as a practical dating tool for very old groundwater. The International Atomic Energy Agency aims to provide this new isotope tool for better groundwater resource management of Member States and developed a field sampling device to collect dissolved gas samples from groundwater and a system to separate and purify trace amounts of krypton from the gas samples for the ATTA analysis. The design, setup and performances of our sampling and purification systems are described here. Our system can produce a high purity aliquot of about 5 μL of krypton from 5 L of air sample (recovery yield of >90%). The samples made by our system were confirmed to be acceptable for the ATTA analysis.

Abstract: Technologies developed over the last two decades have facilitated the use of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) bars as internal reinforcement for concrete structures, specially in coastal environments, mainly due to their corrosion resistance. To-date, most durability studies have focused on a single mechanical parameter (tensile strength) and a single aging environment (exposure to high alkalinity). However, knowledge gaps exists in understanding how other mechanical parameters and relevant conditioning environments may affect the durability of GFRP bars. To this end, this study assesses the durability for different physio-mechanical properties of GFRP rebars, post exposure to accelerated conditioning in seawater. Six different GFRP rebar types were submerged in seawater tanks, at various temperatures (23°C, 40°C and 60°C) for different time periods (60, 120, 210 and 365 days). In total six different physio-mechanical properties were assessed, including: tensile strength, E-modulus, transverse and horizontal shear strength, micro-structural composition and lastly, bond strength. It was inferred that rebars with high moisture absorption resulted in poor durability, in that it affected mainly the tensile strength. Based on the Arrhenius model, at 23°C all the rebars that met the acceptance criteria by ASTM D7957 are expected to retain 85% of the tensile strength capacity.

Abstract: Groundwater resources in the crystalline basement complex of India are crucial for supplying drinking water in both rural and urban settings. Groundwater depletion is recognised as a challenge across parts of India due to over-abstraction, but groundwater quality constraints are perhaps even more widespread and often overlooked at the local scale. Uranium contamination in basement aquifers has been reported in many parts of India, locally exceeding WHO drinking water guideline values of 30 μg/L and posing a potential health risk. In this study 130 water samples were collected across three crystalline basement catchments to assess hydrochemical, geological and anthropogenic controls on uranium mobility and occurrence in drinking water sources. Groundwaters with uranium concentrations exceeding 30 μg/L were found in all three study catchments (30% of samples overall), with concentrations up to 589 μg/L detected. There appears to be a geological control on the occurrence of uranium in groundwater with the granitic gneiss of the Halli and Bengaluru study areas having higher mean uranium concentrations (51 and 68 μg/L respectively) compared to the sheared gneiss of the Berambadi catchment (6.4 μg/L). Uranium – nitrate relationships indicate that fertiliser sources are not a major control on uranium occurrence in these case studies which include two catchments with a long legacy of intense agricultural land use. Geochemical modelling confirmed uranium speciation was dominated by uranyl carbonate species, particularly ternary complexes with calcium, consistent with uranium mobility being affected by redox controls and the presence of carbonates. Urban leakage in Bengaluru led to low pH and low bicarbonate groundwater hydrochemistry, reducing uranium mobility and altering uranium speciation. Since the majority of inhabitants in Karnataka depend on groundwater abstraction from basement aquifers for drinking water and domestic use, exposure to elevated uranium is a public health concern. Improved monitoring, understanding and treatment of high uranium drinking water sources in this region is essential to safeguard public health.

Abstract: In this study, the application of the Well Reversal Technique (WRT) and the impact of reversal time on the efficiency of uranium mining via In-Situ Leaching (ISL) were investigated. A prevalent issue in ISL mineral extraction is the formation of stagnant zones caused by limited access of the lixiviant, which leads to increased operating expenditures. The WRT, which involves altering the function of some wells from injection to production or vice versa, is a potential solution to this problem. The efficiency of WRT is heavily dependent on the well pattern and reversal time. Two commonly used well patterns in ISL are the 9-spot (row arrangement) and 7-spot (hexagonal arrangement). The objective of this study was to determine the optimal reversal time for a 9-spot well pattern through mathematical modeling of hydrodynamic and physico-chemical processes and subsequent economic assessment. A mathematical model of uranium extraction processes was developed using the principles of mass conservation, Darcy’s, and mass action laws. The results obtained for a 9-spot well pattern without reversal, with two reversal options, and a 7-spot scheme were analyzed comparatively. The 7-spot scheme without reversal was found to be the most effective of the options examined. The application of WRT on a 9-spot well pattern allows to enhance production efficiency to a level comparable to that of a 7-spot well pattern. Additionally, the effect of reversal time on recovery was studied based on two well reversal options. The results from calculation revealed that the optimal scenario was when the well reversal is conducted immediately after the time point at which the average concentration of the pregnant solution in the production wells reaches its peak value. The overall efficiency of WRT application was determined through economic calculations of capital (CAPEX) and operating (OPEX) expenditures. Based on economic calculations, it was determined that the utilization of WRT results in a 3–18% increase in mineral production efficiency for a 9-point scheme, depending on the chosen reversal method.